Latest news with #Garner
CNN
7 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Republicans want to add work requirements to Medicaid. Even some recipients with jobs are concerned
Without Medicaid, Joanna Parker would have a much tougher time holding down a job. The Garner, North Carolina, resident works for a local home goods store up to 20 hours a week, typically. But she also suffers from degenerative disc disease in her spine and relies on Medicaid to cover her doctor's visits, physical therapy and medication that helps her manage the pain so she can get out of bed in the morning. 'If I lose my insurance, I lose my ability to work,' said Parker, 40, who was uninsured for about a decade until North Carolina expanded Medicaid to low-income adults in December 2023. That's why Parker is so worried about the sweeping Republican tax and spending cuts package that's now making its way through Congress. The bill that narrowly passed the House last week would impose the first-ever work requirement on Medicaid enrollees like her. The Senate will put its stamp on the measure, which aims to fulfill President Donald Trump's agenda, in coming weeks. Though she's employed, Parker fears she could be stripped of her health insurance if she's not able to work enough hours every month or gets tripped up in reporting her time on the job to the state – should the work mandate become law. 'I feel it will be so easy to lose your coverage if you do the reporting the wrong way and you can't fix it,' said Parker, who has applied for full-time jobs over the past 18 months but said she hasn't received responses. The House GOP's 'big, beautiful bill' would mandate that many Medicaid expansion enrollees ages 19 to 64 work, volunteer, go to school or participate in a job training program at least 80 hours a month to obtain or maintain coverage. The requirement, which would go into effect by the end of 2026, would not apply to parents, pregnant women, medically frail individuals and those with substance-abuse disorders, among others. The provision would help achieve Republicans' longstanding goal of introducing work requirements into Medicaid. It's part of an unprecedented set of cuts the House GOP would make to the nation's safety net program. Proponents say the mandate would prompt enrollees who could – and should, in supporters' view – work to get jobs and, eventually, move off of Medicaid. Also, they argue, it would preserve the program for the most vulnerable Americans and reduce spending on the low-income adults who gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act's expansion provision, a frequent target of congressional Republicans. 'If you are an able-bodied adult and there's no expectation of you to work or train or volunteer in any way, there's going to be a large number who don't,' said Jonathan Ingram, vice president of policy and research at the Foundation for Government Accountability, which promotes work requirements in government assistance programs. But many Medicaid enrollees and their advocates fear millions of people would lose their coverage under the proposed measure, including many who already work or qualify for an exemption but would get stuck in red tape. An estimated 4.8 million Medicaid recipients would be left uninsured over 10 years because of the work mandate, according to a preliminary Congressional Budget Office analysis, though that figure could grow due to last-minute changes to the House bill that accelerated the start date of the requirement. (The Senate, which will now consider the bill, is expected to also make changes to the legislation – though any adjustments to its Medicaid provisions remain to be seen.) Many adults with Medicaid coverage have jobs, though the estimates vary. Some 38% of adult enrollees had full-time jobs in 2023, most of them for the full year, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group that looked at folks ages 19 to 64 without dependent children who did not receive disability benefits or have Medicare coverage, which insures people with disabilities. Just over 20% worked part time, up to 35 hours a week. Another 31% reported that they did not work because they were caregivers or in school or had an illness or disability, all of which might qualify them for exemptions from the work requirements under the House bill. Only 12% of the enrollees said they were not working because they couldn't find jobs, had retired or reported another reason, according to the KFF analysis, which is based on US Census Bureau data. 'Most people are doing the things that they're expected to do in terms of qualifying activities or things that could qualify them for an exemption,' said Michael Karpman, principal research associate at the Urban Institute. 'But people have a lot of difficulty navigating the process for reporting their exemptions, or if they're not exempt, reporting their work activities.' He pointed to Arkansas, the first state to temporarily implement work requirements during Trump's first term before the effort was halted in federal court. More than 18,000 Medicaid enrollees lost their coverage over several months – even though the state automatically exempted about two-thirds of those subject to the mandate. Many beneficiaries in Arkansas did not understand the work requirements or did not realize it applied to them, a 2019 Urban Institute report found. Participants tend to move frequently so their contact information may have been outdated. Others had difficulty using the online reporting portal, especially if they did not have access to computers and internet service. 'That population has all kinds of challenges with interacting with a system like that,' said Bill Kopsky, executive director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, a social and economic justice advocacy group. He noted that many enrollees didn't receive mailed notifications from the state or didn't realize they had to take action. What's more, the mandate was not associated with an increase in employment, though the uninsured rate did rise among low-income residents in the affected age group, said Karpman, who analyzed Census data in a recent report. That finding is in line with a previous study from Harvard University researchers, which was based on telephone surveys. Ingram, however, challenges the assertion that the effort did not spur Medicaid recipients to find work. He noted in a recent report that more than 9,000 enrollees found jobs during the time the work requirement was implemented. Some 99% of them were in the age group subject to the mandate, according to a prior foundation report that cited state data. Katrina Falkner knows what it's like to be stuck in a Medicaid paperwork morass. The Chicago resident, who cares for her elderly father and other family members with disabilities, said she was disenrolled from the program in 2023 after the state Department of Human Services lost the paperwork that she had spent days organizing. The agency told her that it reinstated her, she said. But when she went to the hospital, she found out she was still uninsured. It took several visits to multiple agency offices before the issue was resolved the following year. The department told CNN that such scenarios are 'extremely rare' and it works to 'ensure timely review and enrollment' for all applicants eligible for Medicaid. Falkner, 43, volunteers with several community organizing groups at least 20 hours a week and works every other Saturday as a Head Start ambassador for the Chicago Early Learning program. She also suffers from asthma, anemia, vertigo and other conditions, which can make it hard for her to work or volunteer at times. Being able to meet the reporting requirements concerns her, especially since her electricity and internet access are sometimes cut off. 'If I lost my Medicaid, it would cause me a whole lot of struggles,' she said, noting that the program covers her nebulizer and other health care needs. 'If they don't have the right documents, I won't be able to be in existence because I can't breathe.' Although Dana Bango of Zionville, North Carolina, has dealt with state social service agencies for years, she still 'sweats it every time.' There are many strict deadlines and hoops to jump through, so she has to remain vigilant, she said. The potential work mandate fills her with 'dread' since she's worried that she could fall through the cracks and lose her Medicaid coverage – even though she works 20 hours a week at the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association and delivers for Door Dash 10 hours a week. A cancer survivor who still needs follow up care, Bango is concerned that she may not get the help she could need from state workers to log her hours if the mandate takes effect. 'I've been uninsured before. I don't want to go back there. It's a scary thing,' she said.
CNN
7 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Republicans want to add work requirements to Medicaid. Even some recipients with jobs are concerned
Without Medicaid, Joanna Parker would have a much tougher time holding down a job. The Garner, North Carolina, resident works for a local home goods store up to 20 hours a week, typically. But she also suffers from degenerative disc disease in her spine and relies on Medicaid to cover her doctor's visits, physical therapy and medication that helps her manage the pain so she can get out of bed in the morning. 'If I lose my insurance, I lose my ability to work,' said Parker, 40, who was uninsured for about a decade until North Carolina expanded Medicaid to low-income adults in December 2023. That's why Parker is so worried about the sweeping Republican tax and spending cuts package that's now making its way through Congress. The bill that narrowly passed the House last week would impose the first-ever work requirement on Medicaid enrollees like her. The Senate will put its stamp on the measure, which aims to fulfill President Donald Trump's agenda, in coming weeks. Though she's employed, Parker fears she could be stripped of her health insurance if she's not able to work enough hours every month or gets tripped up in reporting her time on the job to the state – should the work mandate become law. 'I feel it will be so easy to lose your coverage if you do the reporting the wrong way and you can't fix it,' said Parker, who has applied for full-time jobs over the past 18 months but said she hasn't received responses. The House GOP's 'big, beautiful bill' would mandate that many Medicaid expansion enrollees ages 19 to 64 work, volunteer, go to school or participate in a job training program at least 80 hours a month to obtain or maintain coverage. The requirement, which would go into effect by the end of 2026, would not apply to parents, pregnant women, medically frail individuals and those with substance-abuse disorders, among others. The provision would help achieve Republicans' longstanding goal of introducing work requirements into Medicaid. It's part of an unprecedented set of cuts the House GOP would make to the nation's safety net program. Proponents say the mandate would prompt enrollees who could – and should, in supporters' view – work to get jobs and, eventually, move off of Medicaid. Also, they argue, it would preserve the program for the most vulnerable Americans and reduce spending on the low-income adults who gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act's expansion provision, a frequent target of congressional Republicans. 'If you are an able-bodied adult and there's no expectation of you to work or train or volunteer in any way, there's going to be a large number who don't,' said Jonathan Ingram, vice president of policy and research at the Foundation for Government Accountability, which promotes work requirements in government assistance programs. But many Medicaid enrollees and their advocates fear millions of people would lose their coverage under the proposed measure, including many who already work or qualify for an exemption but would get stuck in red tape. An estimated 4.8 million Medicaid recipients would be left uninsured over 10 years because of the work mandate, according to a preliminary Congressional Budget Office analysis, though that figure could grow due to last-minute changes to the House bill that accelerated the start date of the requirement. (The Senate, which will now consider the bill, is expected to also make changes to the legislation – though any adjustments to its Medicaid provisions remain to be seen.) Many adults with Medicaid coverage have jobs, though the estimates vary. Some 38% of adult enrollees had full-time jobs in 2023, most of them for the full year, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group that looked at folks ages 19 to 64 without dependent children who did not receive disability benefits or have Medicare coverage, which insures people with disabilities. Just over 20% worked part time, up to 35 hours a week. Another 31% reported that they did not work because they were caregivers or in school or had an illness or disability, all of which might qualify them for exemptions from the work requirements under the House bill. Only 12% of the enrollees said they were not working because they couldn't find jobs, had retired or reported another reason, according to the KFF analysis, which is based on US Census Bureau data. 'Most people are doing the things that they're expected to do in terms of qualifying activities or things that could qualify them for an exemption,' said Michael Karpman, principal research associate at the Urban Institute. 'But people have a lot of difficulty navigating the process for reporting their exemptions, or if they're not exempt, reporting their work activities.' He pointed to Arkansas, the first state to temporarily implement work requirements during Trump's first term before the effort was halted in federal court. More than 18,000 Medicaid enrollees lost their coverage over several months – even though the state automatically exempted about two-thirds of those subject to the mandate. Many beneficiaries in Arkansas did not understand the work requirements or did not realize it applied to them, a 2019 Urban Institute report found. Participants tend to move frequently so their contact information may have been outdated. Others had difficulty using the online reporting portal, especially if they did not have access to computers and internet service. 'That population has all kinds of challenges with interacting with a system like that,' said Bill Kopsky, executive director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, a social and economic justice advocacy group. He noted that many enrollees didn't receive mailed notifications from the state or didn't realize they had to take action. What's more, the mandate was not associated with an increase in employment, though the uninsured rate did rise among low-income residents in the affected age group, said Karpman, who analyzed Census data in a recent report. That finding is in line with a previous study from Harvard University researchers, which was based on telephone surveys. Ingram, however, challenges the assertion that the effort did not spur Medicaid recipients to find work. He noted in a recent report that more than 9,000 enrollees found jobs during the time the work requirement was implemented. Some 99% of them were in the age group subject to the mandate, according to a prior foundation report that cited state data. Katrina Falkner knows what it's like to be stuck in a Medicaid paperwork morass. The Chicago resident, who cares for her elderly father and other family members with disabilities, said she was disenrolled from the program in 2023 after the state Department of Human Services lost the paperwork that she had spent days organizing. The agency told her that it reinstated her, she said. But when she went to the hospital, she found out she was still uninsured. It took several visits to multiple agency offices before the issue was resolved the following year. The department told CNN that such scenarios are 'extremely rare' and it works to 'ensure timely review and enrollment' for all applicants eligible for Medicaid. Falkner, 43, volunteers with several community organizing groups at least 20 hours a week and works every other Saturday as a Head Start ambassador for the Chicago Early Learning program. She also suffers from asthma, anemia, vertigo and other conditions, which can make it hard for her to work or volunteer at times. Being able to meet the reporting requirements concerns her, especially since her electricity and internet access are sometimes cut off. 'If I lost my Medicaid, it would cause me a whole lot of struggles,' she said, noting that the program covers her nebulizer and other health care needs. 'If they don't have the right documents, I won't be able to be in existence because I can't breathe.' Although Dana Bango of Zionville, North Carolina, has dealt with state social service agencies for years, she still 'sweats it every time.' There are many strict deadlines and hoops to jump through, so she has to remain vigilant, she said. The potential work mandate fills her with 'dread' since she's worried that she could fall through the cracks and lose her Medicaid coverage – even though she works 20 hours a week at the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association and delivers for Door Dash 10 hours a week. A cancer survivor who still needs follow up care, Bango is concerned that she may not get the help she could need from state workers to log her hours if the mandate takes effect. 'I've been uninsured before. I don't want to go back there. It's a scary thing,' she said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I've been using Jennifer Garner's 'skin hack' moisturizer for more than 2 years — and it's on sale for $20
When it comes to skincare, Jennifer Garner takes hers seriously. As a Neutrogena ambassador for more than 17 years, the actress swears by the brand's products and science — especially its Hydro Boost Gel Cream Moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid is a must in her skincare routine and Neutrogena's Hydro Boost has a lot of it. Garner has called the moisturizer her ultimate "skin hack" and has referred to it as "her baby." She's even proclaimed it her favourite Neutrogena product, ever. "There are all these micro-lines that once I put it on, they go away," Garner has said. "This is 48 hours of moisture that you're locking in with one thing. I can see why the reviewers love it," she told InStyle. I'm obsessed with the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer — here's why. For over a year now, I've used the moisturizer religiously. It's become an essential part of my nighttime skincare routine, and I can confirm — it provides stellar hydration. Highly recommended by dermatologists, the Hydro Boost Gel Cream is a lightweight moisturizer that's non-greasy or sticky and strengthens the skin's moisture barrier. With ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5, the formula is known for maintaining hydration and ample moisture throughout the day. The skin becomes softer and more supple after regular use. In the past, I've struggled with dry and dull skin. I often hesitate to try new products as my sensitive skin is prone to reactions. However, the Hydro Boost Gel Cream is dermatologist-recommended, so I decided to give it a go. Off the bat, the texture is incredibly smooth. It feels intensely moisturizing when you slather it on, and while it takes a minute or two to absorb fully, you feel the hydration immediately. I've used the gel cream for over a year, and my skin has never felt so soft and revitalized — largely thanks to the hyaluronic acid. The product moisturizes overnight with glycerin and vitamin B5, leaving me with a bright morning glow. The Hydro Boost Gel Cream also performs great under makeup. Its hydrating formula enhances and brightens my overall look. It adds a tightness and bounce to my skin that I don't see without it. With more than 7,600 reviews on Amazon, many shoppers note how impressive the moisturizer's affordability and performance are. While a few disagreed, several wrote the moisturizer was helpful for skin conditions like eczema. "I want more of it," said one reviewer. Another wrote their skin "never felt or looked this good." Even in the winter, its staying power is "beautiful."Paulina Porizkova, 59, is 'completely and utterly fangirling' over this viral anti-aging treatment Shania Twain has used this multipurpose beauty balm since the '90s I've been using this anti-aging face cream for over a year. It's just like La Mer's $525 cream, but it's $476 cheaper One reviewer highly recommended the moisturizer for eczema. The user advised those with the condition to use the gel cream over heavier products for a lighter and more consistent nighttime routine. Despite thousands of five-star reviews, some noted it "burned and tingled" their skin. A few users said the product may not be compatible with sensitive skin. They warned of the moisturizer's pungent scent and urged caution when applying it around the eye area. Like Jennifer Garner, the Hydro Boost Gel Cream Moisturizer has become essential to my skincare routine. It's fast absorbing, lightweight and gentle on sensitive skin. After using it for over a year, I haven't experienced any reactions to it either. Its hydrating formula leaves me with a dewy finish, locking in all-day moisture. At just $20, it has transformed my skin to the clearest it can be. Though some reviewers said it bothered their sensitive skin, I have never had any issues with the Hydro Boost moisturizer. It has become an indispensable part of my beauty routine, thanks to its long-lasting hydration.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida isn't in the path, but could the Pacific's first system signal a busy hurricane season?
The first tropical system of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season has formed — and while it won't impact Florida, forecasters say it's a sign of what's to come. Tropical Depression One-E, which developed shortly after the Eastern Pacific season began on May 15, is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Alvin and make landfall in Mexico early next week, according to FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner. Why you should care According to Garner, this indicates that the general region, including the Caribbean, is finally warm enough to support a tropical system. Some models suggest (as they often do this time of year) that the Central American Gyre (a semi-permanent low pressure that can form over Central America) may spin off some energy that could become a tropical system in the western Caribbean in mid-June. What we know The Climate Prediction Center has forecast the highlighted region below as one to watch in mid-June for tropical development. It's too soon to say not only whether it will happen, but also what it could become or where it might lead – as models are all over the place, typical for early-season potential. The Central American Gyre is a semi-permanent low pressure system that sits over Central America this time of year and can "spin off" little bits of energy that can grow into tropical systems. That's what the scenario here would be. These are notoriously difficult to forecast because, 8 times out of 10, the models forecasting cyclogenesis are just – wrong. But, the table is set with warm water, low wind shear and favorable atmospheric conditions. MORE | Tracking The Tropics: FOX 35 2025 Hurricane Season Preview The season runs from June 1 to November 30, 2025. However, it is possible for a rare system to develop outside those timeframes. The "peak" of the Atlantic hurricane season is typically Sept. 10, though tropica activity increases between mid-August through mid-October. According to the National Hurricane Center, the first named tropical storm of a season typically happens in mid-to-late June. The first hurricane typically happens in early-to-mid August, while the first major hurricane (Cat. 3 or stronger) happens in late August or early September. RELATED | NOAA 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecast The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting that the 2025 season will be more active than average. However, it is predicted to be less busy than in 2024. NOAA's hurricane forecast: 13-19 named storms 6-10 hurricanes 3-5 major hurricanes (Cat. 3 or higher) 14 named storms 9 hurricanes 4 major hurricanes Here are the tropical cyclone names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Click here to view the pronunciation guide. Andrea Barry Chantal Dexter Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the FOX 35 Storm Team on May 29, 2025.
Metro
3 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Leader who killed 6,000,000 of his own honoured in new statue
The face of one of the worst dictators of the 20th century has been put on display in a busy Russian subway station. Joseph Stalin, who is estimated to have murdered at least 6,000,000 of his people during his brutal reign, is now portrayed in a white statue in Taganskaya station, Moscow. Stunned commuters were seen staring as they walked by the newly unveiled statue, a replica of an original which was removed six decades ago. Others were seen smiling and taking photos with Stalin's likeness leering over them in the historic subway station. One Russian pensioner said she was 'happy our leader got restored' – even though Stalin had taken her father prisoner in the Second World War. Liliya Medvedeva told the New York Times that Stalin could have sent her father to the gulag, but didn't. Others weren't fans. A history student called Stalin a 'bloody tyrant' when he saw the statue. Historian and propaganda analyst Ian Garner told Metro: 'The Russian state has been putting up statues of Stalin as part of a much broader program to rehabilitate Stalin's image. 'People who criticize Stalin or draw attention to crimes committed under Stalin are now threatened with jail, with media attacks. 'The state itself discusses Stalin in school textbooks, books, popular culture, movies as somebody who was a wise leader, who had the brilliant foresight to bring his country into the industrial age and most importantly to win the Second World War.' But Mr Garner points out, the crimes committed by stalin can't be covered up. They're common knowledge, but Russia's conduct towards Ukraine today shows that there is a true 'embrace' of the 'bad guys' in Russian culture. 'It's almost become good to commit violence, good to be aggressive because violence and aggression, especially when wrapped up with the image of a strong and decisive male leader is what supposedly gets things done. 'That's what supposedly saved Russia in the 1930s and 40s and it's what supposedly is going to save Russia today,' he said. Beginning in the early 1930s, Stalin executed around a million of his own citizens. He then forced hundreds of thousands of others to work in labour camps and go to prison. The murders of Kulaks, upper middle class farmers, sparked the famine in Ukraine, also known as the Holodomor. Between 1932 and 1933, up to five million peasants died of starvation in the Soviet Union thanks to Stalin's actions. More Trending As Mr Garner said, the Kremlin has been attempting to reintroduce Stalin for a few years now. There are more than 100 statues of Stalin across Russia today. Putin's reintroduction of Stalin after the removal of many of his statues in the 1960s could be attributed to the fact that he's the second longest serving Russian leader, behind Stalin. Though he hasn't outrightly praised Stalin, Putin has said that Russia 'shouldn't be ashamed of its history'. Yet, the new statue in central Moscow has divided modern-day Russians just as much as Stalin divided the country during his bloody reign. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The bizarre reason Russia wants to ban Shrek and other beloved animations MORE: Putin threats to 'throttle' US firms like Microsoft and Zoom in words war with Trump MORE: British missiles could soon be used against Putin deep into his own territory
